My story began in Chicago, working for a national public relations agency, L.C. Williams & Associates. The internet was just starting, so mornings began with coffee and scanning real newspapers with ink, then telephoning clients to report media coverage. Being from the South, much teasing ensued with my strange accent, brightly colored clothing and relative naivety. I also worked in Communications for the national headquarters of the Alzheimer’s Association, located in the old Playboy building off Michigan Avenue. I was starting to fall for these practical, fun-loving Midwestern folks, especially the dashing Ron, who made me laugh until my stomach ached. Summer had arrived. We spent every blue-sky weekend together — concerts at Ravinia, dinners at Mia Francesca’s, walks along Lake Michigan. Our mutual love for Pat Metheny (we saw him perform twice, standing-room-only) meant the deal was sealed– we married a few months later. Graduate school carried us to Nashville, where I worked as an assistant editor for Thomas Nelson Publisher. I learned how to turn 500 pages of rough draft into a hardcover book in about three/four months, publishing sometimes ten books annually. The process involved working with authors, agents, marketing, cover designers, and production.I have worked as a public relations executive, copy editor and proofreader. Currently, I run a blog, help students with college essays, and serve as a marketing/public relations consultant for Clan Colquhoun International.